Sen. Richard Lugar declared ineligible to vote in home Indiana precinct

CBS

A local election board voted along partisan lines today that Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, who's currently facing in a tough primary challenge, isn't eligible to vote in his home precinct, the Indianapolis Star reports.

The Marion County Election Board voted two-to-one against Lugar, with both Democrats following the recommendation of the board's attorney. Lugar sold his Indianapolis home in 1977 and has since lived in the Washington, D.C. area. He explained last month that moving to Washington was the only way he could afford to keep his family together and remain involved in his sons' school activities.

The Indiana Election Commission ruled last month that Lugar is still eligible to run for office.

While he's currently not eligible to vote in Marion County, Lugar simply needs to submit a new voter registration form based on a physical address in the county to which he has a connection -- for instance, a relative's home -- in order to vote there, the Star reports.

In a statement, Lugar's campaign said it was an "outrage" that Indiana Democrats and his primary challenger, Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock, are wasting money challenging his residency.

"They apparently don't see any path to victory at the ballot box, so they keep maneuvering in hopes they can avoid competing head-on with Senator Lugar," the statement said.

Lugar, a six-term senator who's been a prominent voice of support recently for the Keystone XL oil pipeline, has the backing of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. His opponent, however, has the support of Tea Party groups, the influential group Club for Growth and the National Rifle Association.

[TLUnrine1]

If he hasn't lived in the State since 1977 he is ineligible to even be a U.S. Senator.

HE HAS been RE-ELECTED since 1977, so he is not eligible to be a U.S. Senator for that state:

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen. [U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 3, clause 3]

When he last ran, and won election - he was not a resident of the state, but then he is owned by lobbyists anyways.

[tsigili]

That's simply ridiculous, and obviously politically motivated.

[TLUnrine1]

He hasn't lived in the state since 77, by law of the Constitution, after his first election expired - he is illegally holding the office of Senator.

But then Republicans aren't known for ethics.

[venusvegasvada]

"He explained last month that moving to Washington was the only way he could afford to keep his family together and remain involved in his sons' school activities."

Awwwww. You know what? Too @#$@@ing bad.
At least you CAN vote.

Here's a little tidbit for everyone.

Just because your an American doesn't mean you can vote.

Example- If your in the US military and get an honorable discharge, not only do you NOT get VA benefits (as they say you do- it's BS),
but if you go to work for the US military overseas (because they are constantly reducing the number of soldiers, etc. and replacing them with throw away contractors) and you don't have a home somewhere back in the US, you CAN'T vote.

Being a US citizen and having a passport is not enough to vote in the USA. You have to have property somewhere in the US. An address. If you don't, you can't vote.

So sorry for you Mr. Lugar. Tough gig huh? You are a Congressman though, I am surprised the peasant rules even applied to you.

[DeclarationOfIndependence]

Having military relatives with homes in-country never knew about these restrictions. Come home. We need help here.

[Lindag10]

I didn't know you could represent voters in a place where you don't maintain a residence. It was interesting that the TEA party brought this to the attention of the election board. Guess they have their uses after all.

[DeclarationOfIndependence]

Gee, somebody running for Pres. said he would send them ALL home and not have to maintain homes/apartments in DC... that they needed to be seen regularly in their home area and to be more active with their families, and could commute when necessary, and could function fulfilling responsibilities and communications via internet and other technologies. I think that is the best idea yet. Who said that? Ron Paul?

[javila2]

Obvious rampant Voter fraud!!!!!!!!!!

[DeclarationOfIndependence]

The rules don't apply to these guys UNTIL they get cornered. Bye Bye Lugar. Don't let the door smack you in the rear. Bet you don't go back to Indiana... you are toooo superior, right? oops, who will take care of completing development of that facility with the train tracks entering through high wired fences with the tops curved inward to keep people inside, not curved outward which is the usual angle to keep people from entering an area. Who will take care of those big windowless one story buildings with new concrete floors and some kind of fuel pipes added to each building? No wonder he stays away from Indiana. Looks like he only uses them to keep his power. Keep his family together. BS. Indiana, keep him out.

[occupy_cbs]

"Lugar sold his Indianapolis home in 1977 and has since lived in the Washington, D.C. area."



More than likely, this republican has been voting illegally since 1977 in Indianapolis, and committing voter fraud for decades!

No different than mithc daniel's attorney general that was just found guilty of numerous FELONIES in relation to voter fraud.

Why are so many conservative republicans from Indiana committing voter fraud, yet are trying to disenfranchise so many others from voting?

[Lindag10]

He is excuse was that he moved to Washington D.C. in 1977 to "keep his family together and be involved in his sons' school activites". That was 35 years ago. If his sons are STILL in school now, I'm a blue nosed gopher. If he doesn't maintain a home in Indiana, he shouldn't be allowed to represent the state in Congress.

[hhandyman]

If he live in dc he should Not be allowed to run for an area he does not return at least annually to to represent it

[enoughsaidu]

If you don't live in the precinct isn't common sence that he can not vote there. I think that it is odd that all he has to do is register un another address. Could I go and register under a address and not live there, but still vote. That does not sound right.

[smehl1506]

If the good Senator was a Democrat, the Reeps would be screaming "voter fraud" and "ACORN".

Of course, they never talk about REAL voter fraud, like moving voting places out of poor or minority neighborhoods, closing the polls when people are standing in line to vote, tampering with ballot boxes, etc.

[kashakugel]

"Lugar simply needs to submit a new voter registration form based on a physical address in the county to which he has a connection -- for instance, a relative's home -- in order to vote there, the Star reports." THAT is actual voter fraud (or more technically voter registration fraud), unlike what the gop wack jobs are alleging exists is three dozen states where they have passed voter surpression laws.

In Califroania, a long-time state assemblyman is being prosecuted for running in a district while using the address of a home owned by a relative in the district, while he actually resides in a different district (or so it is alleged). Were Lugar to take their advice, the "Star" should be prosecuted for conspiracy to commit voter fraud.

[StrongHelmet]

If I moved out of my voting precinct, I would no longer be eligible unless I officially registered in connection with another address. Apparently Mr. Lugar didn't do what he needed to do. I do not think he is eligible to vote in that precinct.